Vehicle-wheel chain.



W. G. MAYER.

VEHCLE WHEEL ICHAIN. APPLxcATmN FILED MAR.. 10. |916.

Wpg. u Patented July 3L 191?.

rre sr varias rarnnr cranica.

'WILLIAliI Gr, MAYBE, OF PTTSBURG'H, PENNSYLVANIA.

VEHCLE-WHEEL CHAN.

, following to be a full, clear, and exact de scription thereof.

My invention pertains to antiskidding devvices for automobile tires and the like, and

relates especially to anti-skidding devices of the kind in which chain links are disposed upon the thread of the tire, to engage the road and thereby prevent skidding. @ne of the objects of my invention is to provide an anti-skidding device of the chain type which will be effective in preventing skidding, especially when used in connection with a. heavy vehicle wheel, such as the wheel of an automobile truck or the like. it is another object of my invention to provide an anti-shielding device of the same type which will be easy and cheap to manufacture and which may readily be placed in position on a wheel or reinoved therefrom. lt is an-l other object of my' invention to provide an anti-skidding device of the chain type in which there will be no liability of the parts thereof to become displaced with relation to one another. And other and further objects of my invention will appear from the following specication taken in connection with the appended claims.

By way of example, l have described in the following specification, and shown in the accompanying drawings an anti-skidding device constructed in accordance with my invention. It is to be understood, however, that the invention may be embodied in other forms, and that changes may be made in the forms described and shown, without exceeding the scope thereof, as defined in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a truck wheel having applied thereto an anti-skidding device constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of one of the mats employed;

` Fig. 3 is a side elevation of one of the tightening hooks;

' Fig. 4. is an edge view of the same; and

Fig. 5 is a plan View of a modified form Of mat.

i Specification of Letters Patent. Application sied March 1o, 191e.

Patented July 31, 191'?.

Serial No. 83,274.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the following specification and the several figures of the drawing.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 1, '1G indicates the tire of the wheel of an automobile truck or the like, and 11 indicates the feliy. My improved anti-shielding device comprises a plurality of mats arranged in a series around the tire 1t'. and secured, by

means of intermediate devices, to be described below, 'to a chain 12 disposed around the wheel within the folly 11. i

ln the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, each of the mats includes a pair of chains 13 disposed parallel with. each other and eX- tending longitudinally of the trail of thc tire. rlfhe links of these chains are twisted so as to give a substantially uniform bearing upon the road. The chains 13 are connected together by suitably formed links 1li, which in turn are joined by central rings 15. The connection, by' means of the links 1st and rings 15, is made at a short distance from the ends of the chains 1.3 so

as to leave loose chain sections 13a at the terminals of the chains 13. The endsl form continuous parts of one and the saine piece of chain 13. Adjacent theircenters, the chains 13 are connected by links 14 and a ring 15 similar to the links and rings employed' near the ends. The rings 15 are connected by means of chain sections 16, the links of which are of the saine nature as the chains 13. llhere are thus provided three parallel lines of chain extending lengthwise of the tire tread. ln order to prevent further the chance of these chains spreading with respect to each other, the chain sections 16 are connected on each side, to the chains 13 by means of links 17. Loose chain sections 18, similar to the chain ends 13 but in the form of separate pieces, extend from the centers of the chains 18.

For connectin the mats to the retaining chain 12, l emp oy a plurality of tightening hooks constructed as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Each hook7 designated 19, includes a slotted body' 2O having a hook 21 formed at the lower end thereof, the end of which hook comes close to the body 20 and is spaced therefrom only sufficiently to permit of a chain link being passed onto the hook. Pivotally mounted in the upper end of the slot of the body 2O is a hook 22 having a long end 23 which, when the hook 22 is closed, extends through the slot of the body and engages the end the liool; 2l thereby closing el The hook is so shaped that in. on the saine will not tend to cpe-n it; and its long end is so sl'iiiped that it nin-y be used es ai lever iii cloning the hook, thereby drawing toward encli other the chains which are connected to it-zind te the hooi; 2l. order to pre- Tvent opening oli the liocli, due to jarring, vibration or the like, e. pivoted. latch provided, which latch may be swung ici-oss nlosed,

ln securing the niets to the retaining chains 12, six of the bool: inenibers 19 ere `provided for euch niet, one for the end ci erich of the chain sections 131 und 1S. The iniinnei of employing these hoek ineinbers will be readily understood i'oni Fig. l. The hoek 2l is inserte-d in a. link of the chain l2. The end Q3 of the pivoted hook then inserted in. e link of one of the loose sections (13 or 13 es the cese ine-y be); and by the actionl of closing the hook the loose chain section is tightened toward the retaining chain l2. By reason of the shape ci" the liooli there will. normally be no tendency of such hook to open; but the lzitch may be closed to prevent eccidental opening` due to jolts or the like. il: it is desired to tighten the cha-in section toward the retaining chain l2 to e further extent, this may be' eiected by engaging the hook With the next link on the cliiiin section.,

in order to provide additional sii eguerd against the niets shifting lengthwise 'with respect to each other, I may prei/ide short helical springs 25, connected between the adjacent cliiiin sections i3@ of each pair ot' niets, en ezicli side of the wheel. The retaining cliiiinlr? is divided into sections by inea-ns oi' :i plui'iilit] of the hook members 19, inserted etveiioiis peints therein'. By ineens of these hook ineinbers, it is possible to tighten the retaining chain l2 if, and ut :in v poi t, desired..

ii-sindding device described iibove is extremely easy to ineke, is cheap, and

pplied to ai Wheel or renioved therei'ecil"V by iiieiins or the 1?), itis easy to tighten iiny the parte ii desired. There is no tendency, especiiilly when "fir, aire provided, olf the pin-ts cit the device to nieve with respect to each other. The longitudinal chain sections, lying on the treiidbi the tire eil'ectuzilly prevent skiddinir' and they :ire nid- 1 er I2 the end oi' the liooli 2:2 when tiie letter u1u living lieve hereunto l Lind l?, which latter also grevent slipping of tliewlieel in. zi circumferential dir ion.

in Fig. :3' liiive shown a modified 'forni niet, pititiculiirly adapted for use in connection with tires having narrow treads. in this niet chains 26 having loose ends 26a ure provided, which correspond ".vitli the cliiiins i3 of the formpreviouslyr described,

ing et the chains 56, which iii-e placed incre closely together than in the forni described above, :i pluiiiility of long` links 22) nrc con fi-ibi i ffii .erft i: nectec ctnfeen inem. i ic niais o t ie Lrind sliovvn in Fig. 5 may be held in piece in ii innniier siniiliir to that described above in connecnon with Figs. l and il v ng thus :i'iilljvv described my invention what I cliiiin as .new find desire 'to secure by Letters Pnt-ent is:

l. In un enti-skiddingl device, it plurality of individuel, Yflexible mats adapted to lic on the trend. i tire, flexible sections depending ilroin seid ii'nits zit the ends tliei" of, coil` spring connecting inenibers operating `with said lieXible depending sections for connecting said niets together, n cliein ei;- tending around the Wlieel Within the periphery thereof, and it plurality of devices ior connecting seid flexible sections with seid eiiziin.

As en article oi manufacture, an enti- .shielding device, comprising e. plurality' oi' individuel liexible niets composed. of chain sectii'ins adapted te lie on the tread of e tire, portions oi" said chain sections depending troni said niets et tlieends thereof, coil spring connecting` nieinbers cooperating with said depending chain sections for connecting seid niets together, .i cliziin extendi ing,` around the vvlieel within the iieripliery tlieifce and :i plurality @if devices coniiectinn sii ilexible sections with siii chain,

tesliiziony vv'hereoi t my liii'iiil. Vi/*lliiil'ibi G. lviilfili Tillil nesses:

CHARLES (i. Corn, J. M. Giiominsmv.

, the sind la intimi; 

